Lester Ernest Lyons

Lester Ernest Lyons, 83, of Ossian, died on Saturday, March 2, 2002, at the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital in Decorah, following a short illness.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, March 6, at the Bethel Presbyterian Church, West Union. Rev. Galen Smith officiated at the 11:30 a.m. service. Burial was in the Hillside Cemetery, Ossian.

Lester Lyons, was born on July 31, 1918 at Clarion, the son of Walter C. and Louisa M. (Slining) Lyons. He was baptized and confirmed in his faith at the Presbyterian Church in Clarion. He graduated from the Clarion High School.

On July 22, 1944, he was united in marriage to Mildred Miller at the Methodist parsonage in Clarion by Rev. Preul. They became the parents of 11 children. He was a dairy farmer when they were married and continued this vocation all his life, in various communities, settling in the Ossian area in 1980. They moved into Ossian in 1993 because of Lester's failing health.

Lester is survived by his wife, Mildred of 57 years; eleven children, Diane Geisler and husband, Larry of Monona, Marcia Hansen and husband, Rusty of Cedar Falls, Stan of Ossian, Gloria Swestka and husband, Leonard of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, Nancy Sacquitne and husband, Gary of Decorah, Dennis and wife, Shirley of Manchester, Scott of Decorah, Becky Winkler and husband, Clarence of Ossian, Doug and wife, Lynnette of Ossian, David and wife, Nancy of West Union and Brian and wife, Valerie of Ossian; 25 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Donald, Homer and Walt; and one sister, Ruth MacDonald.
© Wright County Monitor 2002 

R. Norine Odland

R. Norine Odland, 83, of Clarion, died on Wednesday, March 20, 2002, at the Wright Medical Center, Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 23, at the Holmes Lutheran Church. Rev. Paul Rothfusz officiated at the 1:30 p.m. service. Burial was in the Holmes Lutheran Cemetery. The Willim Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

R. Norine Odland, was born the oldest child of Earl and Clara (Stenson) Odland on February 16, 1919, on a farm north of Holmes in Wright County. She was baptized and confirmed in the Holmes Lutheran Church. Growing up in the area of her birth she attended Lake Township #4 Country School and the Clarion High School, graduating in 1935.

Norine attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, graduating in 1939. She taught in grade schools in Neola, Iowa City and Storm Lake in Iowa, Naperville, Illinois, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1951, she moved to St. Paul, Minnesota and began teaching and doing graduate studies at the University of Minnesota.

In 1951, Norine received her MA and in 1959 received her Ph D. She was a professor of children's literature in the College of Education until her retirement from the University in 1989, a career spanning 50 years.

In her retirement, Norine continued to be active in the area of children's literature, with her family and friends and in supporting Multiple Sclerosis research and awareness. In 1995, Norine moved to the Wright Medical Center in Clarion where she resided until her death.

She was a member of the Holmes Lutheran Church, American Library Association, National College Teachers of English, International Reading Association and a recipient of the Kerlan Award for Excellence in Children's Literature.

Survivors include one sister, Elma Lynch and husband, Lowell of Clarion; one brother, Earl S. (Bud) Odland and wife, Lela of Clarion; four nieces; three nephews; and numerous other family, friends and caregivers.

She was preceded in death by her mother in 1978; father in 1982; and one sister, Segnora Wheeler in 1994.
© Wright County Monitor 2002 

Hazel Irene Sadler

Hazel Irene Sadler, 101, of Clarion, died on Tuesday, March 30, 2002, at the USA Healthcare Center, Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 2, at the First United Methodist Church, Clarion. Rev. LaVonne Kaasa officiated at the 1:30 p.m. service. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. The Willim Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Hazel Irene Corsair, was born on December 4, 1900, on a farm in Wall Lake Township, the daughter of William and LuLu (Bailey) Corsair. The family moved to Clarion in 1901 where she attended the Clarion Schools, graduating in January 1920.

In March of that year the family moved to Eagle Grove where she worked as a clerk until she and Theodore (Ted) E. Sadler were married on November 16, 1922. To this union two children were born, Marjorie Eileen and Donald Eugene. Hazel and Ted were farming Ed Kirstein's farm when Ted died in August of 1962. After Ted's death, Hazel moved to Clarion where she worked as a cook at the Clarion Care Center until 1971.

Hazel was a girls 4-H Leader in Woolstock Township for many years, was very active in her church, and enjoyed gardening and growing flowers. She was a charter member of the Clarion Historical Society, was the first occupant of the Clarion Housing occupying apartment #1, member of Senior Citizens Center, and former member of the Genealogical Society.

She is survived by one son, Donald Sadler and wife, Virginia of Clarion; three granddaughters; five great-grandchildren; three great-great-granddaughters; and one sister, Eva Corsair of Clarion.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ted; daughter, Marjorie; and son-in-law, Thomas Alter.
© Wright County Monitor 2002